Timeline: F.A. Day Middle School Construction
School is hoping renovations will be complete by Sept. 2012.
As the School Committee considers modular classrooms at three elementary schools, it's also keeping tabs on progress of permanent construction plans at F.A. Day Middle School.
At Monday night's special School Committee meeting, Deputy Superintendent/Chief Administrative Officer Sandy Guryan and Building Commissioner Stephanie Gilman informed the committee that the city is on track to choosing a firm for F.A. Day construction designs.
After nine firms submitted bids, Gilman said four were selected for interviews, which were held Tuesday. Three finalists will be submitted to the mayor, who will award the final bid.
Once on board, Guryan said the designer will look at previous options presented to the committee, complete construction drawing and costing. At that point, the department will be able to come back to the committee with a better idea of options and pricing for the Day construction.
By September of this year, Guryan said the department should have a more complete update as to what the Day project is actually going to look like, at which point the project will start the process of going out to bid.
Ideally, the committee is looking to have the work done by September 2012 but the current timeline places project completion in January 2013. Guryan said the department is currently working with F.A. Day administration to figure out a contingency plan if the work was not finished by September 2012.
Here is a current timeline of the F.A. Day construction:
| Design funds request/approval | Completed |
| Architect request for quotation (RFQ) responses due | April 28, 2011 |
| Designer selection meeting | May 2, 2011 |
| Design Selection Committee meeting interviews shortlisted firms | May 17, 2011 |
| Contract with selected firm | May 27, 2011 |
| School Committee update | June 13, 2011 |
| Schematic design | June 22, 2011 |
| School Committee vote | June 27, 2011 |
| Schematic design review by Design Review Committee |
July 12, 2011 |
| Docket the project with the Board of Aldermen (two week public hearing notice) | July 13, 2011 |
| Site plan approval hearing/Public Facilities Subcommittee approval | July 27, 2011 |
| Finance Committee approval | July 27, 2011 |
| Full Board of Aldermen approval | Aug. 8, 2011 |
| Design development | Aug. 16, 2011 |
| Design development review by Design Review Committee | Aug. 23, 2011 |
| Construction documents | Aug.-Oct. 2011 |
| School Committee update | Sept. 12, 2011 |
| Construction documents review by Design Review Committee | Oct. 27, 2011 |
| Advertise central register | Nov. 15, 2011 |
| Specifications/plans available | Nov. 28, 2011 |
| Pre-bid conference | Dec. 1, 2011 |
| Filed sub bids due | Dec. 12, 2011 |
| General bids due | Dec. 20, 2011 |
| Contract awarded | Jan. 6, 2012 |
| Construction period | March - Aug. 2012 |
| F&E installation and occupancy | Phased, starting Jan. 2013 |
Due to increased enrollment, the School Committee late last year recommended construction at Day to expand the middle school.
However, the committee learned earlier this year the district would face significant costs tied to a new sprinkler law, which requires buildings to install sprinkler systems throughout the property during a renovation. With only $5 million bonded by the city to cover the projects, the committee has had to go back and look at new options for both the middle school and elementary schools.
The committee will meet again Mon., May 23 at 7:30 p.m. and is expected to take a vote on the modular classroom recommendations for the elementary schools.
